Evacuation zone expands to nearly 10 square miles in northern Orange County

A chemical incident at an industrial site in Garden Grove prompted officials to establish a nearly 10-square-mile evacuation zone that includes parts of Anaheim, Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park, and Westminster. The order displaced as many as 79,000 residents. Streets inside the perimeter remained empty while police blocked intersections and businesses closed.

Shelter conditions and resident accounts Some evacuees were permitted brief returns to retrieve medication or pets. Most others moved to shelters, hotels, or the homes of friends and relatives. A 79-year-old resident who spent the previous night in a hotel near Disneyland said the family was still searching for pet-friendly lodging after paying about $350 for two rooms.

A 38-year-old mother staying with a family friend reported that her children were confused but had been told the move was for safety.

Transportation support Uber announced it would provide two free rides, each capped at $40, to and from designated shelters for displaced Orange County residents through Monday. The same industrial site has drawn prior complaints from nearby residents about nighttime fumes, according to one 51-year-old evacuee who lives directly behind the facility.